Song as Old as Rhyme

May 12th, 2008
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Thought I’d do a quick comparison of the English and Japanese versions of the song “Beauty & the Beast” in preparation for watching the musical of the same name this coming weekend. We’ll start with a refresher on the English version, then we’ll look at the Japanese version. Enjoy!

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Beauty & the Beast

Tale as old as time, true as it can be,
Barely even friends, then somebody bends
Unexpectedly

Just a little change, small to say the least
Both a little scared, neither one prepared
Beauty & the Beast

Ever just the same, ever a surprise
Ever as before, ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

Tale as old as time, tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change
Learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun rising in the east
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty & the Beast
Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme
Beauty & the Beast

(Off to the cupboard with you now, Chip. It’s past your bedtime. Goodnight, love.)

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美女と野獣

すばらしい　ものがたり
おずおずと　ふれあうわ
指と指

ほんのすこし すこしづつ
やさしさが ひらいてく
愛のとびら

真実は ただひとつ
しあわせは　隠せない　
誰の目にも

なつかしい 歌のように
凍りつく　季節さえ
変えながら

ほんのすこし すこしづつ
やさしさが　ひらいてく
愛のとびら
やさしさが　ひらいてく
愛のとびら

（食器棚へお行き　もう寝る時間よ）
（ふぁー）（おやすみ…）
-lyrics adapted from those found here-

Here’s a phonetic guide to the Japanese lyrics in case you have trouble with reading it above.

Bijyo to Yajyuu

Subarashii monogatari
Ozuozu to fureau wa
Yubi to yubi

Hon no sukoshi, sukoshi dzutsu
Yasashisa ga hiraiteku
Ai no tobira

Shinjitsu wa tada hitotsu
Shiawase wa kakusenai
Dare no me ni mo

Natsukashii uta no you ni
Kouritsuku kisetsu sae
Kaenagara

Hon no sukoshi, sukoshi dzutsu
Yasashisa ga hiraiteku
Ai no tobira
Yasashisa ga hiraiteku
Ai no tobira

（Syokkidana he oiki mou neru jikan yo）
（Fuaa）（Oyasumi…）
-lyrics adapted from those found here-

Finally, here’s a rough translation of the Japanese lyrics.

Beauty & the Beast (Japanese)

A wonderful tale
Timidly touching
Finger to finger

Just a little bit
Gradually　tenderness
Opens up
Love’s door

There is but one truth
You cannot hide happiness
From anyone’s eyes

Endearing like a song
Even in the freezing season
Changing along

Just a little bit
Gradually tenderness
Opens up
Love’s door

Tenderness opens up
Love’s door

（Go to the cupboard. It’s bedtime.）
（Sigh）（Goodnight…）
-lyrics adapted from those found here-

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  • Carlie - Oh, I could very easily see doing comparisons of other Disney stuff. But if you liked this post, have you seen my other comparison posts? Like My Fair Lady? I am a sucker for a good musical...

    Blue - First, thanks for the message on Mixi. (I think that was you? How many people call themselves "blue" on the internet, anyway? Ok...probably more than one, but I digress.) I'll be editing that page shortly, but it's really not often viewed, so don't worry too much. I really appreciate the input. Also, your comments are wonderful! I studied anthropology in conjunction with Japanese literature (not in much depth, I'm afraid), and learned about the sort of chic buzz words like 物の哀れ, but terms like 叙情的, 美辞麗句 (flowery, rhetorical language?), and the concept that there's a cultural tendency to deteriorate into sentimentality (感傷に堕す) are all new. And awesome! I love this stuff. Keep the wonderful insights coming. :-D
  • You're welcome, Carlie.
    "Bittersweet and strange, finding you can change
    Learning you were wrong"
    These are the most important lines of the original version, definitely the heart of this song.
    However, in Japanese lyrics, these are replaced with expressions like "Love will come out of tenderness""There is but one truth."
    Overcoming the differences is the obvious message of the original lyrics, which implies not only the difference between beauty and the beast but also the differences among the people living in the society, as you know, lots of different people living in U.S.
    Not being the big issue for Japanese or not as important as for Americans, that message is replaced with the simple importance of love, especially a romantic love.

    "finding you can change
    Learning you were wrong"
    These lines also represent the humanism that Americans love so much.
    Believing that human beings can improve themselves and the world.
    Believeing that you can get it if you try as hard as you can.
    Japanese find these idieas, that you can find easily in many American culture like Hollywood films, very "Young" or even "Immature."
    They believe that human beings have to accept the sad realities sometimes whether they like it or not.
    And they accept them with "Monono Aware."
    It's a sort of masochism finding beauty and pleasure in disappointments of one's life, but at the same time, they are the greatest tools for weak humans to get by .
    Sometimes, though not always, I enjoy the youthful optimism in American culture because it is just too hard to live only with pessimism no matter how you decorate it with "美辞麗句" beautiful words and expressions.
    That's why many Japanese are gravitated to American culture and that's also why I prefer the original lyrics of this song.
    And the other fact is that Japanese culture has very strong tendency to slide down to a sentimental trash "感傷に堕す"
  • @ blue - I wish I had read your comment before I commented. A very interesting and insightful comment, thank you

    Carlie's last blog post..Zettai Kareshi - Episode Three - Review and Caps
  • I re-watched Beauty and the Beast a couple of months ago for the first time in years and years. I actually saw it on ice too years and years ago - probably more recent than I had seen the movie last.

    It was really interesting to hear the Japanese version of the song. I would love to hear more disney songs Japaneseafied, if you are keen to dig up more. ;)

    Carlie's last blog post..Zettai Kareshi - Episode Three - Review and Caps
  • This is a very interesting example of how different ideas Americans and Japanese have about the way the lyrics of the songs shoud be or should not be.
    I think the original English lyrics is far better suited for the theme of this musical or expressing it.
    On the other hand, Japanese version is heavy on the feelings so called "Jojoteki 叙情的".
    It's kanda hard to describe what exactly "Jojoteki", but it is like indulging in a very melancholic and sentimental feelings with Monono Aware 物の哀れ.
    They call the Jojoteki　songs Jojoka "叙情歌"
    When Japanese hear a beautiful melody, they expect beautiful lylics without too much realities. Actually realities are Okay as long as they are beautified with lyrical expressions of Monono Aware.
    I think the original lyrics of this song is too explanatry for the taste of Japanese. Therefore the Japanese lyricist chose to loose most of them and filled it with lots of details which seem to be not related to the theme of the musical directly. Yet they bring some very subtle but beatiful and emotional imageries. That's the Japanese way.
    Well, I still prefer the original version though.

    Enjoy the show!
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